A homeless trout that traveled from the Fraser River to try to find water in Denver last year apparently has learned the city’s ways: The trout now holds a cardboard sign that reads “Will work for Water.”

Last year’s video and the one just unveiled are a light-hearted attempt to highlight concerns about Fraser River and Upper Colorado rivers.

In the recent video, the fish rakes the leaves, does dishes, reads books to the kids and performs other chores. Upon leaving the trout douses himself with a bottle of water. A narrator says, “Tell Denver Water to keep the Fraser and Upper Colorado healthy. Go to www.DefendtheColorado.org and help protect the lifeblood of the state.”

Denver Water has said it understands the importance of a healthy river.

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Colorado Trout Unlimited and other groups have released a video to raise public awareness about the plight of the Fraser River and Upper Colorado rivers, which they say are being depleted to death by water diversions to the Front Range.

“It’s a lighthearted effort to highlight a serious problem: diversions are killing the Fraser River,” David Nickum, executive director of Colorado Trout Unlimited, said in a news release.

Political expert Fred Brown told Chris Romer and Michael Hancock to consider their one-hour forum today at the Webb Building in front of city employees to be just like “a job interview.”

Each fleshed out what they would do differently. Romer told employees they can expect to take more furlough days in the coming year. Hancock said he would provide “retirement opportunities for those who are close to retirement.”

A standing room-only lunchtime crowd watched the two answer questions that focused specifically on what the new administration would do to cut the budget deficit, bring in new jobs and help workers to be more satisfied.

Romer reminded workers that Hancock voted a pay raise in for the incoming elected officials at a time when they are being asked to cut back.

Hancock said he doubts that any elected official will take the pay raise if the economy is still in trouble.

Both, however, praised the work of the city employees and said that they will depend on the employees’ knowledge about the city to help find ways to cut.

Hancock said the first thing he will do in office is to look at the recommendations of the financial task force. Romer said his first act in office is to convene a town hall with the city employees.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.